8:20 AM

The front gate of the Hilltop swung open. "Not a moron now, huh?" Jerry asked Richard.

"We still have several semiautomatic rifles pointed at our backs," replied Richard, his hands in the air.

The six Hilltop guards who had rounded them up at the edge of the forest after Jerry approached the guard on the back fence now urged them inside. The gate closed again. Five of the guards split off, heading back to their work, one of them laden with most of their confiscated weapons, while the sixth remained behind them with the barrel of a rifle at their backs.

Gavin watched as a man with long, brown hair strolled toward them. He wore a flowing black trench coat, combat boots, fingerless gloves, and gray knit cap on his head. Based on his appearance, Gavin could only assume this must be Jesus. The first time he'd heard the name, he'd thought Jesus was Hispanic and that the ass of a Savior talking about him just didn't know how to pronounce his name.

"Stretch out your hands now, please, gentlemen," Jesus said, and they did. He began patting them down one by one. Richard looked particularly perturbed at the lack of dignity involved. Jesus pulled a total of seven knives off the four men and slipped them into the deep pockets of his trenchcoat. "You can put your hands down now," he told them, and then men dropped their arms to their sides. "Just know that you're being watched from all directions. Eduardo there behind you will continue to keep his gun on you at all times. I'll take you to speak with our leader, but one false move – "

"- Yeah, we get it," Richard interrupted him.

"Nice place you have here," Jerry said. "We don't have cows at the Kingdom. Just chickens and pigs."

Jesus looked over the big, smiling man, paying special attention to the leather-wrapped plates on his lower arms. "What are you wearing?"

"Armor." Jerry held up his arm. "Like a knight. It was King Ezekiel's idea. It keeps them from sinking their teeth in."

"And check out his battle axe," said Eduardo, stepping out from behind them. The man, who wore his hair in a manbun, half turned to show off the axe he'd put on his own back. "It's medieval, man!"

"You're probably not going to be keeping that, you know," Jesus told him. He looked the four men over. "Which one of you is Gavin?"

Gavin glanced at Jerry. The Hilltop guards hadn't asked for names when they'd apprehended them at the edge of the forest. "I only told them my name," Jerry answered with surprise, "and told them two of us were defecting Saviors and two from a friendly community."

"We've been listening to the radio traffic," Jesus explained. "When Gary retreated, one of the two dead soldiers he left behind had a radio."

Paula, Gavin thought. She would have had one. Most of the Saviors didn't – not routinely anyway - but Paula had been given one recently because she was on her way up the chain. Negan was about make her a lieutenant and was going to put her in charge of the slaughterhouse as a safe house. So he must have given her one already, and both Negan and Gary had forgotten the fact. "So you know I'm not with them anymore, then," Gavin said. It would also explain why Shane hadn't been seen on the roads - he knew they were laying in wait for him.

"That doesn't mean we trust you," Jesus said. "Yet."

8:25 AM

Daryl slowed his motorcycle to make sure the school bus didn't fall too far away in his rearview mirror. Dixon must be impatient in the rear. He kept tilting his racing bike to the left and then tilting it to the right and peeking around both sides of the bus before falling behind it again.

Daryl now swung his already loaded crossbow from his shoulder and, riding one handed, aimed at the lonely walker several yards away in the middle of the highway wearing a bright orange construction vest . With one smooth pull of the trigger, the bolt was flying. The arrow thunked into the walker's head just before Daryl's bike reached it, and he jerked to a stop.

He dismounted, recovered his arrow, and searched the fallen creature's pockets. He found a pocket knife – not of high enough quality worth keeping for himself considering the dozen better ones he had by now, but maybe one of the kids in that bus could use one, so he slipped it in his back pocket just in case. He found a pack of cigarettes – open and dry – and left them behind. He slid out the man's wallet, searched it for condoms, and slipped two foil packs in his back pocket before tossing the wallet to the side of the road and dragging the body out of the way so the bus wouldn't have to thud over it.

The bus was nearing him now and slowing down. He waved, jumped back on his bike, and sped forward down the clear road.

8:30 AM

Shane Walsh sat in the great, high-backed leather chair with his feet up on Gregory's old oak desk in the study of the mansion. Jesus lingered by the fireplace, eyeing the visitors. Eduardo stood by armed with his AR-10 as Shane listened to Gavin's explanation of Negan's assassination and his offer to work with the Hilltop and the other communities to form an invasion force to take over the Sanctuary and put a permanent end to the extortion.

His hands behind his head, elbows casually stretched out, Shane asked, "And I suppose you expect to be installed as the new leader of the Saviors once I help you topple the other lieutenants?"

"That's not what I'm in this for."

"Sure you're not," Shane said.

Gavin wasn't quite sure what to make of this man. There was a cockiness to him that reminded him a bit too much of Negan, but Shane wasn't cruel or oppressive, Gavin didn't think. Gregory probably would have mentioned it if he were, used it as a mark against Walsh and in favor of himself.

"I want to break the back of the syndicate," Gavin told him. "Free the workers to leave without fear of being hunted down if that's what they choose to do. Those who surrender and want to stay in the Sanctuary and live in peace can be ruled by a governor or a council appointed by a coalition of the leaders of the rebelling communities. I don't know what my place will be in that, if any."

"And where is Gregory now?" Jesus asked.

"Still at the Sanctuary, as far as I know," Gavin replied. "Probably locked up. The plan was to reinstall him at the Hilltop after eventually executing you and Shane."

"I've heard Gary, Regina, and Jed on the radio," Shane said. "But what about Simon? Natania and Cyndie over at Hallowbrant said a man name Simon's been heading up their collections. From the radio chatter, it sounds like he was sent somewhere? And that the lieutenants don't want to turn him around?"

"Simon's headed to Georgia." Warily, not sure how Shane would react, Gavin explained Negan's original plan to seize the mother of his child and bring her back to urge him to talk.

Shane abruptly swiveled his feet off the desk and stood. "Where the fuck is Woodbury? And why do they think Lori's there?"

"I assumed you would know where it is. You aren't from there?"

Shane shook his head. "Georgia, yes. Woodbury, no."

"There were three communities communicating in Georgia that we picked up on our ultra long range radio in the Sanctuary. They were using Egypt, Rome, and Paris for code. Someone slipped up, and we learned Rome was really called Woodbury. Gregory said you mentioned that you left the mother of your child behind in Georgia, so Negan assumed she'd likely be in one of those three communities. Why'd you leave her?" That was the part that had always confused Gavin.

"She wasn't mine," Shane said thinly. "I left her there with her husband."

"He took her into his harem?" Gavin asked.

"What? No!" Shane shook his head and rested his hands on his hips. "I didn't leave her behind with some tyrant like Negan! She was married to a decent man." He ran a hand over his mouth. "My best friend, in fact."

Now Richard looked confused. "Your best friend's wife is pregnant with your child?"

"It's a long fucking story and none of your goddamn business," Shane told him. "How's that for an answer?"

"It's an answer," Richard replied. "Not a very satisfying one." He threw a glance at Gavin. "Do you even know what kind of man you've decided to throw us in league with?"

"The kind of man who can arm four communities and coordinate a simultaneous insurrection that takes down eight Saviors without losing a man himself," Gavin replied.

"Eduardo!" Shane barked at the Hilltop guard. "Round up Kal, Felix, Penny, Casper, Miles, Wesley, Jacob, and Freddie. Get two rifles per person, all our hand grenades, and two thousand rounds of ammunition. We're heading to Georgia to put a stop to this asshole Simon." He turned to Gavin. "Show me on a map where this Woodbury is."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Jesus reached out a calming hand toward Shane while looking at Gavin. "When did Simon leave?"

"He's at least fifteen hours ahead of you by now," Gavin said. "He was in North Carolina last night and would have left from there at sunrise this morning."

"Fifteen hours," Jesus repeated. "There's no way you're catching up to him."

"But Lori's not in Woodbury. She's at Fun Kingdom. Which must be either Egypt or Paris. Maybe I can catch up to him before he gets there."

"Fun Kingdom?" Jerry asked. He grinned at Richard. "Sounds like our camp only better."

"You took over the leadership of this community," Jesus told Shane. "You led us into insurrection against the Saviors. You can't abandon us now and take nine of our best soldiers with you!"

"Listen," said Gavin, trying to diffuse the situation. "I have a woman on the inside, in the Sanctuary. Laura. She was supposed to get on the ultra-long-range and warn those communities that Simon was coming so they'd be ready to defend. They're all allies, and they'll probably defend each other. They have to outnumber Simon's squadron between the three groups of them. And they should have had plenty of time to prepare."

"Was supposed to?" Shane roared. "Should have? Well did she or did she not warn them?"

"I don't know. I can't risk communicating with her on the radio. She'll be found out."

Shane paced before the fireplace, both hands on his hips. He stopped, exhaled a deep breath, and nodded. "You're right. I have duties here. I've got to trust Rick and Daryl and T-Dog and all of them…They're good fighters. And if they have three communities now…" He shook his head.

"Daryl?" Gavin asked. "I've heard that name on the radio. He's in Egypt."

Shane let out a laugh-like breath of relief. "Good. Then Lori's in Egypt, too, not Woodbury. Rick – Lori's husband - wouldn't leave a community with a hunter and fighter like Daryl."

Gavin bit his bottom lip. He'd also heard the name Rick, and he knew Rick was in Woodbury. But if he said that – and Shane knew Lori was in Woodbury…he'd take a lot of their resources down there, and he wouldn't be available to help in this fight that was coming whether he was here or not. "Yeah," Gavin lied. "She must be safe in Egypt. And with the warning…Simon will probably be stopped at Woodbury."

Shane nodded. He strode back to the great oak desk and unfurled a map. "Show me the Sanctuary. I've never been able to find it."

9:45 AM

Sasha was helping Rosita and Oscar to wire explosives across the road on the other side of the walker-infested moat while the mechanics tuned up the armored vehicle and military truck. Rick and Tara were assigning guards within the walls, Bob and Dr. S were making sure the infirmary was well stocked and bringing in extra cots in case they might be needed, and Abraham was packing up to go to Terminus to recruit mercenary soldiers in exchange for liquor.

"Where did you learn so much about explosives?" Sasha asked. "Were you an expert in the military?"

Rosita wound a wire around a stick of TNT. "I'll let you in on a little secret. I was never actually in the military. I did JROTC in high school because I thought it would be a good way to meet hot guys and it got me out of two of my classes. But after high school, I mostly just waited tables when I needed extra cash, and I was always living with a boyfriend who paid for the apartment and utilities."

"You're kidding," Sasha said.

"I learned everything I know from my ex-boyfriends. Johnny taught me about bombs and all sorts of survivor prepper type shit. Chaser - he was Navy - taught me to tie knots. Rodrigo taught me to shoot. Marcus taught me how to fix cars. Carlos taught me EMT shit. And Abe...well he taught me how to kill walkers and men."

"You've had a lot of boyfriends," Oscar observed. "What's you average stint with one?"

"Don't worry," Rosita told him with a smirk. "You've got at least four months left before I learn everything you know about surviving in prison."

Oscar smiled and shook his head.

Abraham strolled over. "Sasha, come on. You're with me on this recruiting expedition."

"She's with me," Rosita insisted. "Laying explosives. Get someone else to go with you."

Abraham eyed her warily. "Why don't we let Sasha decide?"

"I'm with Rosita," Sasha told him. "Laying explosives."

"Take Axel," Rosita said.

"I'm not taking fucking Axel. Besides, Rick's got him on guard duty outside the infirmary. That way, if he shoots off his own foot, he'll be right there already."

Rosita chortled.

"See," Abe said, "I can still make you laugh."

Rosita looked up from her wiring work at him. "Hair's getting a little unruly there, Abe. You're letting it get away from you."

"Getting ready for retirement. Relaxing the grooming standards. Thinking about becoming a plumber, a sheepherder, or something."

"You ain't herding sheep now, Abraham. Eyes on the prize."

"Maybe I'll let you shave me down all over when this shit storm's wrapped up, dolphin-smooth."

Oscar stood from where he was kneeling working on the wires and strode up to Abraham, glowering. "You want to watch what you say to my girl?" he asked.

"Boys," Rosita said. "Settle down. There's work to do."

10:15 AM

The yellow school bus sat parked in the circle in front of the entrance gate to Fun Kingdom, like the relic of some old world field trip, as the passengers filed through the open gate, many of them carrying boxes of food and other supplies, all with packs on their backs, Eileen with her baby girl, and Michonne now with Judith cradled in her arms. Dixon was the last to come in, rolling in on his racing bike and then putting his feet up and shooting off when he saw Beth in the distance, walking up the path that led to the carousel. Glenn swung the gate shut behind him.

Sophia, who had come to the gate on a Segway, greeted Carl, Duane, and Patrick with hugs. "No hug for me, huh?" Jody asked, ruffled her hair, and then dropped his skateboard to the pavement and took off down the open walkway.

Sophia sighed and shook her head. "Such a show off."

"I know, right?" Patrick asked and pushed his glasses up on his nose. "What is that thing?"

"Come on! I'll show you how to ride it."

After Daryl dismounted his bike, Carol strolled up to him and kissed him. "We made it," she said as she pulled away. "It feels kind of anticlimactic now."

"Don't wish for excitement," he warned her.

She kissed his earlobe. "Maybe in bed," she whispered. "Later."

He smiled. He was about to kiss her back when Glenn interrupted them, approaching and saying, "That's a lot of people. Where are we going to put them all until this is over?"

"We'll put Judith in the crib in Maggie and Glenn's room," Carol said. "Andre can go back to Michonne's bed for a while, in her and Beth's room. Carl can have Andre's bunk bed, and Duane can have the empty bunk. Maybe we'll put Patrick on a sleeping bag on the floor in there since they're all friends. We'll ask Hershel to take the couch in the living room so Eileen and her baby can have his room. We'll get her one of those foldable pack n' plays from the Kids Kingdom giftshop for little Eve to sleep in."

"And the other twenty-five people?" Glenn asked.

"Royal Banquet," Daryl said. "'S got a fireplace. Still gets a little cool some nights. And they can warm up food and water on the fire. Two port-a-potties not far from there, from the construction that was going on. Still usable for awhile."

"We'll stack the chairs along the wall and move out the tables to make room," Carol said. "Maybe leave four or five tables out for them to use. And let them loot the Kingdom of Sleep for whatever they need in terms of sleeping bags, blankets, and pillows to get comfortable."

"Well," said Glenn, looking over the crowd. "I guess we'll go get them settled. I think most of the kids are already running around the park, though."

Spring birds flew overhead as childish laughter filled the air of Fun Kingdom.

12:05 PM

Gavin snorted awake where he lay on the stiff formal couch in the Hilltop mansion's drawing room. He felt a presence before him, swung himself into a seating position, and saw Shane stand before him. After hiking through the night, he was exhausted. The others three were napping somewhere as well. They'd be heading back to the Kingdom soon, to raise soldiers for the invasion force, and they'd be bringing some extra ammunition and guns with them. Shane's ammunition and guns had been at the Hilltop all along, beneath a trap door under the oriental rug beneath the heavy entryway table in the foyer. Gary just hadn't thought to look for trap doors. There was also some ammunition's in a safe behind an oil painting in the hallway.

"There's someone here to see you." Shane stepped back and through the open doorway to the drawing room, Laura strolled in. "She did get through to Egypt. They have been warned."

Gavin stood and nodded to her. "Good to see you alive," he said.

"You, too."

"How'd you get here?"

"I'm in charge of the scouts now. In charge of watching the road for Shane and Jesus."

Gavin smiled and shook his head. "Brilliant job. So what's going on in the Sanctuary? What's the plan?" Gavin asked.

"Jed and his squadron raided the chemical outpost early this morning looking for you. They found it empty except for Jared, who was turned into a walker. They shot him. They lost three men – one to a land mine and two to booby traps."

"Please tell me they didn't go on to look for me at the Kingdom."

"Not yet, but they're going to. They're regrouping at the Sanctuary and planning the attack right now. They feel sure you're there, under the King Ezekiel's protection."

"Shit."

"They've decided no more extortion. They're going for colonial rule instead - installing their own governors. They want to abandon the outposts and move into the communities. They plan to invade the Kingdom first, kill anyone who resists, capture you and later publicly execute you as a traitor, and make anyone who surrenders their workers. They plan to do the same with Alexandria, the Hilltop, and Hallowbrant. The library they're just going to raid and take the workers and goods back to the Sanctuary. They don't think it's a camp worth maintaining. Gary will be in charge at the Sanctuary. Jed and Regina and I will each be given our own communities to rule."

"And Simon?" Gavin asked.

"If he comes back, and he doesn't try to kill them? They'll let him have Hallowbrant. In the meantime, one of the captains will rule it."

Gavin exhaled. "When do they plan to invade the Kingdom?"

"After night fall. Jed and Regina are leading the attack with an army of sixty, and Gary's staying in the Sanctuary with the rest of the Saviors."

"So I have time to warn them. And get them more guns and ammo and men." He glanced at Shane. "We need your help."

"Tonight would be an ideal time to attack the Sanctuary," Shane said, "with only Gary and only half the Saviors there to defend it."

"I have to get back to the Kingdom!" Gavin told him. "My people are there. And they can't take on an army of sixty. They don't even have sixty people there."

Shane nodded. "I can give you some extra guns and a couple of grenades and some ammo. Take Richard and DJ and Jerry back. And you can have Kal and Eduardo, too. They're my best shots. But I need the rest of my men. Some here to guard, and some to join the Sanctuary invasion force. I'll organize a raid on the Sanctuary with the other communities. Laura can get me through all the roadblocks." He nodded to her. "Pretend she's apprehended me and she's taking me back to the Sanctuary to be tortured for information."

"Good idea," Laura said. She looked at Gavin. "You came here through the woods?"

"Yes, but it'll take us too long going back that way on foot."

"They've moved the road blocks, because they know you know where they were. There is a way you can get to the Kingdom by a road that just has two scouts on it. If they see you, though, they will radio it in in code. They're avoiding the radio generally, but still reporting suspicious movements. I can go to those scouts now, and I can kill them to clear the way for you. They'll trust me to get close, and I can do it before they radio. Then I can drive back here and get Shane through the roadblocks to organize the invasion."

Shane clapped his hands together. "Let's do this thing."